Guangdong – Macao Trade and Economic Co-operation Information Section

Hengqin Sold 190,000 M2 Land to Macao for the “Macao New Neighborhood” Project

On the morning of 9 April, the Online Signing Ceremony of the “Grant Contract for State-Owned Land-Use Rights” for the “Macao New Neighborhood” Project on Hengqin was held out simultaneously in Macao and Hengqin. The Hengqin New District Management Committee sold a piece of land of 190,000 square metres to Macau Urban Renewal Limited for the “Macao New Neighborhood” Project.

It is reported that, to carry out the relevant requirements of “Achieve Zhuhai-Macao Co-operation for Hengqin Development” and the “Outline Development Plan for the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area”, to accelerate the implementation of the comprehensive residential project “Macao New Neighborhood” for Macao residents, the public notice of land transfer was released on 20 March this year, with a 15-day period that ended on 3 April. According to relevant regulations, Macao and Hengqin signed the “Grant Contract for State-Owned Land-Use Rights” after the statutory publicity period of the agreed land transfer. In view of the current situation and arrangement of COVID-19 epidemic prevention and control, the signing ceremony was held online.

“In the past ten years, Hengqin has continued to explore co-operation with Macao in the field of cross-border livelihoods, and has successively formulated and launched a series of measures to facilitate the co-operation, including the ones that allow Macao-licensed vehicles to enter Hengqin, border crossing convenience for Macao professionals, Zhuhai Medical Insurance pilot programme for Macao residents, Macao enterprises’ cross-border office and the launch of a free cross-border commuter line. The co-operation between the two regions in the field of society and livelihood has continuously deepened.”

Mr Yang Chuan, Director of Hengqin New District Management Committee said that the signing of contract about “Macao New Neighborhood” marked the official commencement of the project development and also implied the beginning of a new stage of integrated social and residential development of Hengqin and Macao. “Hengqin New District Management Committee will do the best to provide the project with the best-quality and most convenient service, and accelerate the project so that it can be completed earlier and benefit Macao residents as soon as possible.”

As the public agency for the Macao SAR Government, the Macau Urban Renewal Limited has rich experience in promoting urban development and re-organising the urban layout. The Company will undertake the development and construction tasks of the “Macao New Neighborhood” Project in accordance with the requirements of the SAR Government.

According to Mr Lam Kam Seng, President of Macau Urban Renewal Limited, the Macao SAR Government began to study and plan to build a high-quality residential community for Macao residents in Hengqin as early as 2015. The “Macao New Neighborhood” Project on Hengqin Island is a significant comprehensive residential project jointly carried out by Zhuhai and Macao, as instructed by the “Outline Development Plan for the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area”. “Macau Urban Renewal Limited will do the best to construct the New Neighborhood Project.”

The “Macao New Neighborhood” Project on Hengqin Island is the first comprehensive residential project in Mainland China specially created for Macao residents, integrating residence, education, senior care, medical care and other functions. The Project is located to the east of Central Avenue of Hengqin New District, to the south of small Hengqin Hill, to the west of Tianyu Road and to the north of Gang’ao Avenue. The total area of the Project is 190,000 square metres, with a floor area ratio of approximately 422,000 square metres, including residential buildings, housing various facilities including community service and commerce facilities, schools and parks. It can provide about 4,000 apartments, including about 200 apartments which are for rent to specific professionals only rather than for sale. At the same time, medical, education, community services and other public services on Macao standard will be provided.

After many rounds of consultations and negotiations, Zhuhai and Macao reached a consensus on the project. The Zhuhai Government transferred the land to Macao by agreement to implement the “Macao New Neighborhood” Project. Macau Urban Renewal Limited, the public agency wholly owned by the Macao SAR Government is responsible for land planning and construction. The project units will adopt the method of restricted sales price and restricted transaction, aiming only at meeting the housing needs of Macao residents. Macao residents can directly enjoy social benefits such as education and medical care as are available in Macao, which helps to expand their living space and create convenient conditions for Macao residents who work and live in the Greater Bay Area.

Participants of the signing ceremony included Mr Niu Jing, Party Secretary of Hengqin New District Management Committee, Mr Yang Chuan, Director of Hengqin New District Management Committee, Mr Wu Chuangwei and Mr Gao Lei, Vice Directors of Hengqin New District Management Committee; Mr Lam Kam Seng, President of Macau Urban Renewal Limited, Mr Leong Keng Seng and Mr Lau Veng Seng, Vice Presidents and of Macau Urban Renewal Limited, as well as Mr Li Guang, General Manager of the Bank of China Macau Branch.

The Online Signing Ceremony of the “Grant Contract for State-Owned Land-Use Rights” for the “Macao New Neighborhood” Project on Hengqin Island
(Photo: Government Information Bureau)